Phil heads up the extensive London team of mariner/lawyers in dealing with all manner of casualties, including collisions, groundings, strandings, oil pollution incidents, fires, explosions, salvages and wreck removals. He has extensive experience of dealing with all stages of casualties and everything derived from casualties, from initial instruction and on-site investigation/casualty management, through to final resolution, by negotiation wherever possible but where necessary by way of the courts, arbitrations, mediations or other forms of dispute resolution.

Amongst his specialisms are passenger ship and ferry accidents, having been involved in or handled many of the more significant such incidents over the last 35 years, including the losses of the Achille Lauro, Romantica, Sea Diamond, Explorer and Costa Concordia.

Another of his specialist areas is ports and terminals. He regularly advises a number of major UK harbour authorities in relation to shipping accidents, damage to port infrastructure, pollution in ports, accident investigation, harbour liabilities, limitation of liability of ports and pilots, port marine safety code issues, harbour and pilotage directions, byelaws, recovery of unpaid dues and removal of abandoned vessels in ports. Phil lectures regularly at Harbour Master training courses.